What is in italics in the beginning part of this chapter is Helga remembering her recent conversation with Curly.


Stretching her limbs out. Helga quietly scanned the crowd and the other teams. There were 4 different schools in here right now competing. She looked back into the crowd to see her family and her friends. Of course she saw the sourpuss, Ian. She scowled before going back to her game face.

"Alright team, I know you all can do it. I believe in all of you." Their coach was saying. "This place will get loud. This place will be a mixture of boo's and cheers. Always remain confident in yourself and you can do it."

Helga almost imagined that if Mr Simmons gave this speech, it would have a bunch of 'Specials' in it. Looking to Stephanie who was waving more like a cheerleader to, Curly, Helga went back to stretching. She wasn't about to think about anything personal right now even after Curly spoke to her the other day.

"What's up with you lately, Curly?" She asked as she neared him at his locker. "You haven't been yourself lately."

Curly's eyes looked all around him before he could speak. "That's because I haven't been."

Pursing her lips, she could only lean against the locker next to his. "Wanna talk to me about it?"

"Wanna dump Arnold to be with me again?"

Bells rung off in her head. She knew it. "Trouble in paradise with, Stephanie?"

His shoulders slumped slightly. "Well she is sweet and all. I enjoy her, but there is one problem."

"Her needing your approval if it is right or wrong before doing anything?" She figured.

"Yeah. Does she do this with you?"

Releasing a small bit of laughter, she touched his shoulder. "Yeah. I mean she is actually pretty great considering. It is like she has no confidence. Sometimes I believe it comes from her family. While she is very confident in her athletic ability, she is always second guessing herself."

Bringing his hands up to his face to move it across him, Curly seemed to be wiping the slate clean. "Also there is another thing that is bothering me." Just then Rhonda came passing by with her head in her notebook. His eyes trailed her as she continued down the trail till they landed back on her again. "Ok that is bothering me. I can see the look on your face, Helga."

She couldn't help but smirk a knowing smile. "Miss her attention on you? She did pay you a lot of it before hand."

"Yeah, but that was annoying. When she spoke the way that I knew how she can speak, I really enjoyed it. I found it insightful even if it was daunting. The daunting part of it being will she be able to change fully or fall back to what she was before?" Chuckling at himself, Curly looked close to a tiny meltdown. "I think I'm speaking out of my private part there."

Glancing over to where Rhonda disappeared to, she turned her head back to Curly. "I believe that this time the change will stay. She's willing. She seems scared though so we all have to be patient." Spotting Stephanie practically bouncing down the hallway, she nudged him. "Your girlfriend arrives."

Curly had no time to react before Stephanie wrapped her arms around him to kiss him. She was giggling with pure delight. In the past, she would of been sickened by that, but now she felt amused.

Hearing the announcement for them to get ready for the first event, everyone cleared the track. Sitting down on a bench, Helga watched as a couple of her teammates went to the field for the hurdles. That was one event she was actually happy not to be doing.

Arnold watched as each event happened. His eyes glued to Helga. Her mind was completely focused. He loved watching that intensity. Could see the piercing blues of hers even at this distance. Seeing her head lift up towards him, they both shared a look that conveyed how much they meant to the other. He loved that tiny smile she gifted him before she went back into focusing. Arnold ignored many around him and that included the pompous Ian. A man that appeared to want to be anywheres but there.

Curly's eyes seemed to rest more on Helga more than his own girlfriend. He felt guilty for doing this. Felt bad even as his eyes went to Rhonda coming in. Her cheeks were flushed as she went to hug Nadine before sitting down. She appeared embarrassed for arriving late rather than the old proud self she use to be. Seeing Helga getting up with her teammates for the last race of the day, he spotted how Rhonda cheered.

Helga's heartbeat was pounding the second Gina took off. She was the last to grab the baton. She cheered on each girl as they ran around the track before the next girl took over. She continued to cheer them on till it was her turn. She waited as Stephanie approached her where she grabbed the baton and quickly ran off. She could clearly hear her own cheering section as her feet pounded the pavement. She wasn't gonna bother to pay attention to anyone else as she aimed herself ahead.

After rounding the first bend she spotted someone out of her peripheral, but she won't do anything just yet. She can't push until it was time. To waste your breath was a calculated risk until she rounded the last bend. The crowd was getting louder prompting her to pick up her pace to some speed metal track. It encouraged her as she found herself crossing the finish line to be encompassed by her team.

She won. They all won the race. Smiling and chuckling with laughter, Helga glanced over to Arnold just blowing him a kiss. Her prize has already been won.

The team had ice cream together before she headed to her place with Arnold, Gerald, and Phoebe with her. Stepping inside, Helga was brought in for another hug by her parents and Olga. Smiling at their reactions she excused herself so she can get cleaned up real quick.

Ian sat on the farthest seat just observing everyone. They were all pretty distracted while Helga showered up. He had to admit that she was a powerful runner. Her own sister just meditated and did light yoga. He could tell that Miriam didn't exercise truly even with that slim body of hers. He never thought of Miriam in any other way that could be perceived as wrong. True, with the way he viewed Helga would be seen that way. The girl was heavily interesting, while his own wife bored him the best of times.

His eyes went to Arnold. Helga wanted a future with a guy who had a strange shaped head? Perhaps he was a good honest person as they said, but he felt any children they bare will be blessed with that noggin. Olga did her little tickle wave to him in her way of staying cute. Waving back to her in the same manner, Ian wished that Helga would at least come back down.

Just as he thought that she came in to automatically wrap her arms around, Arnold's waist from behind. That innocent expression on her face held a mixture of mischief when Arnold's head turned to look at her. Seeing her hop before going to the front of him, Ian's jaw clenched as Arnold's arms wrapped around her front.

"Baby sis, Anita has made pizza for you in honor of you winning." Olga spoke in that wind chime type voice.

Jerking her eyebrow up really quickly, Helga brought her hands out to indicate everyone. "That's fine for me, but what are they having?" She quipped. Everyone chuckled kindly at her even as her hands went back to lay on top of Arnold's.

Giggling like a small child, Olga clasped her hands together in delight. "Oh you are so funny, Helga. She made plenty for all of us." Glancing over to her husband she added, "She even made one with anchovies on it just like you love."

Smiling at his wife, Ian stood up. "Thank you, Dear."

After dinner, Helga showed her friends around the house very thankful that no Ian was around. Wandering up to her bedroom she let them inside so they can hang out. Gerald just continued to gawk at everything.

"Man, Helga this place is huge. I can't believe the size of your bedroom." Gerald let a whistle out before leaning forward. "Tell me what is stuck up your brother-in-law's bum."

Adjusting her glasses, Phoebe took her boyfriend's hand. "I remember all that you've told me, and I dare say there is something more you haven't even shared yet."

"And that is?" Helga hoped that they could see it. Right now it seemed to be a task to stay as far from him as possible.

Phoebe looked to Gerald for some help seeing that the words were failing her. Thankfully, he did. "That boy has a serious eye for you. It's pretty damn creepy."

"Indeed." Phoebe agreed.

"Plus the way he was glaring at Arnold each time he touched you showed his dislike of my main man."

Arnold sat there listening to them. Even he noticed it making him wonder if her own parents did too. "They are leaving wednesday, correct?" He asked Helga.

"Yeah." She responded. "I'm seriously about to wonder if my sister has been brainwashed by that sap."

"I'm wondering if you should stay with Phoebe or myself until they are gone."

Helga shook her head. "I only have an issue with him and not my sister. I can handle him guys."

Arnold knew that she could, but he still didn't feel at all comfortable about this.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

In a trendy part of town where most stores opened late for teenagers or young adults to wander, Rhonda found herself actually venturing into an antique store. Never had she been in one before, she carefully perused the place. Of course the place had a smell to it from the furniture and other belongings in there. Sifting herself in one section she found a very bulky old cellphone obviously from the 80's. She giggled at it at the thought of carrying one of those around.

Walking further in she spotted some jewelry she thought looked still beautiful. Spotting one that looked like a ladybug, Rhonda checked the price of it before moving on. She wasn't fond of the dolls with the scary looking broken eyes staring at her. Those reminded her of a horror movie. Moving forward more she found herself attracted to an old intricate brass headboard. A headboard her own parents would forbid her to have. Snorting in derision of that, Rhonda continued on.

Going back towards the front she asked a sales associate for some help for one of the cases. When the person showed her the ladybug pendant, Rhonda purchased it, Leaving the store she went back to her car having no more interest in looking around. Touching the button to wait for the light to change she caught sight of, Curly with Stephanie. Studying them both, Stephanie was leaning down looking at something while Curly didn't seem to. His eyes did go automatically direct to Rhonda's. Turning her head in alarm she was thankful the light chose to change at that time.

Curly had been hearing Stephanie second guessing her decisions since they both have gone out tonight.

'Should I buy this?'

'Do you think he's right?'

'Was it wise for me to turn this way?'

He can understand some of the time, but not all the time. She even asked him if she should order a certain item off the menu. It was a side salad. He found it interesting that he can tell most anyone anything at all, but this girl could hardly take it. Even Lila could take it and she gets squeamish over the tiniest movement.

As she was distracted, Curly was searching for something else to look at when he felt eyes staring right at him. Going to where it was coming from he saw, Rhonda standing there at the corner. She looked spooked that he caught her staring, but he was glad for the distraction. She had her glasses on tonight making him think she looked more studious than a lone girl looking for a single guy to be with.

Watching her cross the street, Curly felt a bit sad when she disappeared into the parking structure. Hearing Stephanie cooing about something had him diverting his attention back to what she was pointing at. It was a patchwork bear. Agreeing with her that it was cute, he found himself pulled into the store.

At home, Rhonda wrapped her present up to give to Nadine. She remembered the first time she was with her, Nadine got excited over a ladybug. Lifting up her finished product she hoped she enjoyed it.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Helga grunted at the brightness of the sun streaming in. Rolling away to face the door she attempted to fall back asleep. Attempted.

Her eyes narrowed at hearing her sister's sparkly voice bouncing off the walls. Olga knew she liked to sleep in on the weekends so what was her deal anyhow?

"You really want to go to the zoo on a day like today?" Came Ian's irritated voice. "In Alaska the animals are use to cold weather, but the majority of those animals will want to hide away. It will be a waste of money."

Helga unfortunately had to admit he was correct there.

"Oh but the zoo can be so magical this time of year. Can you just imagine it?" Olga's voice was singsongy now. "It will be romantic."

Helga heard an audible scoff coming from Ian.

"Why don't you go alone and tell me how it is." He suggested.

There was silence now till Olga could be heard sniffling. "You never want to do anything with me anymore. Why is that?"

"I came here, didn't I?"

"Well of course you did. You only did that to convince daddy to give the business to you and not, Helga."

Now fully awake, Helga listened to the argument.

"Only because you don't show any initiative. At least your sister does." Ian argued.

"But why do you want to take the business away from her?" Wondered Olga.

Helga could imagine one of her eyes larger than the other right now as she tried to wrap her brain around his logic.

"She's too young right now. When she is old enough I will hand the business over. Maybe we can be partners together." Ian sounded too grating right now.

"Did you ever love me?"

Helga sat up for the answer to that question. She had to assume her parents were at work right now to not be able to hear this.

There was a long pause. "Yes." He drew his answer out as if unsure.

"I don't believe you. Pardon me while I go and be alone elsewhere." Olga's huffed out.

Hearing the sound of the clacking of her heels, Helga kept her ears peeled to the hallway. Soon she heard departing footsteps leading away from her room. Getting up she went to the bathroom to clean up. It seemed time to have a talk with her sister.

After showering and getting dressed, Helga left her room thankful to see James right away. Asking him where her sister was, she was informed she drove off in Helga's car. Angry, she turned to head back into her room to call her sister up. Reaching her voicemail had her growling.

"Hey Olga, it's Helga. Any reason why you took off in my car and not your rental? Anyhow please be careful and I guess I'll see you much later." Hanging up, Helga called up Arnold. "Hey Football Head."

"Hi beautiful. I was about to call you. How are you?"

She thought he sounded so sweet over the phone even with his voice now a little deeper. She could hear him still had some tiredness to his tone. "I'm stranded here because Olga took off in my car."

"Want me to come get you?" Arnold inquired.

Opening her mouth to respond, Helga was interrupted by Ian's arrogant voice.

"I can drive you to anywheres you wish, Helga." Turning her head to flash him a look of hatred, Ian didn't seem to care as he continued to speak. "Tell him he can stay at home. I don't mind being at your beck and call."

On his end, Arnold grabbed his coat to place on. "Tell him to stuff it. I'm heading over right now. I love you."

"Be careful, Arnold." Not wanting to hang up, she did. "What the hell is your deal? Tell me exactly what you want."

Ian wanted to come closer to her. "I think you know, Helga."

"What about my sister?"

He scoffed at the question. "Bores me. I thought she would help me. Your parents are rich. She's rich. You are. Turns out she really isn't. She likes to give that money to the poor." His face turned away in disgust.

Crossing her arms over her chest, Helga knew she will be punching him very soon. "So is that why you've been hitting on me? Thinking of trading one sister for another?"

Ian's eyes scanned her entirely. "You can do better than that freak of a boyfriend. At least with me your children wouldn't have that hideous head."

That tore it. Clenching her fists she strode over to him. "You never insult Arnold again. There is nothing wrong with him at all. I love him just the way he is. I always have."

"You are so exciting and he is just so boring."

"Yin and yang, moron." Her head was screaming at herself to punch him, but she still needed him to talk. "This is my parents business and they have the right to name who they want to take over. I may of never wanted to take over the business before due to my rebelling nature, but now is a different story. I can do this business while pursuing my own passion at the same time."

Ian smirked casually at her. "I can promise you even more time with this passion of yours. We'll be partners, in more ways than one, and I swear you'll be very pleased."

"Never." She bared her teeth. "I'm very pleased with what I have now. A healthy relationship with my family now. A boyfriend that loves me for who I am. I have friends that respect me."

"I love you too." His voice turned tremulous.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "And what of my sister?"

He barked out a laugh. "I don't love your sister. She bores me. You do not. I can't believe she was born in the same gene pool as yourself. She's stupid. Just an insipid woman that I..."

Punching him in the face, Helga stood over him. She growled at him even as she lifted her phone up in the air shutting off the recording. "You never insult my family. Never insult my boyfriend and never ever insult my intelligence either."

Getting up, Ian held his hand to the side of his face. "You bitch. Give me that phone." He demanded as he went to grab for it.

"Uh uh." Waggling her finger in the air, Helga shook her head silently. "Not on your life, bucko."

"I can sue you for hitting me. I can take over this company another way." Touching his cheek he felt the burning pain associated with it. "You'll pay for this."

"My word against yours." Lifting her right hand up she laughed. "Looks like this hand never touched you at all. Try to prove it."

"I'll make sure you pay."

"Oh, Mr Ian you seemed to have hit your face against the railing. Do you need ice on that?" Came James's voice as he approached from behind. He had heard the entire thing from where he was.

Turning his body towards the butler, Ian snorted at him. "I didn't hit my face against the railing you moron. She hit me."

James maintained his calm demeanor at that verbal assault. "How can that be when I saw it for myself." He wondered innocently.

Helga smirked at James even as her phone rang. Answering it she saw that it was Olga. "Hey Olga. You all right?"

"Yes and I'm sorry for taking your car."

"That's fine. Where are you?" Helga loved that James stuck by in case Ian tried something.

"Heading back right now. Ian had upset me."

This will upset her even more once she heard the recording. "He has upset me too." Helga glared at Ian.

"I'm at the gate and a large green car is behind me. Looks old." Olga told her over the phone.

"That's Arnold. I'll see you in a bit." Hanging up, Helga smiled wickedly at Ian. "Toodles to you." Storming past him she went to the stairs to dash down them. Hearing two sets of rushed footsteps behind her she knew they were following her. Seeing the door open to reveal Olga and Arnold, Helga hugged her. "We need to talk, Olga." Stepping back she pulled out her phone. "Actually you need to listen."

Ian came running into the room trying to grab her phone. "Give that to me."

Ducking away, Helga went behind Arnold. "Try that because I already sent the file elsewhere for safe keeping ass."

Olga glanced at the phone. "May I hear it?"

Nodding her head, Helga played the recording. Olga listened to it intently without much of an expression on her face. At the end she shook her head as her eyes narrowed on her husband. She looked then to Helga as regret went into her eyes.

"How long has he been like this to you?" Olga inquired softly.

"Helga has been flirting with me." Ian argued.

Silencing him with her hand raised, Olga gazed at her sister lovingly. "How long?"

Helga felt so bad for her. "Since you've been together. He has never hit on me. He has just thrown an insult here and there. Undermined me. Only lately he has been turning up the creepy factor. I'm so sorry, Olga."

Hugging her sister, Olga felt bad for her for going through this. "Don't." Whispering in her ear, Olga added, "So you're responsible for that bruise on his cheek?"

"You can say."

Pulling back, Olga was hearing Ian argue his side as she reached into her very large purse to pull out some papers. "I went to see our lawyer. I couldn't take it no more. The lack of love. I tried earlier in hopes to regain something from the beginning with him." She glanced down at the papers before turning her attention back to Ian. "I want a divorce."

Ian's mouth opened wide at the papers. "So you just got these today?"

She shook her head. "No. I had them for a few days now. I called up the family lawyer to also contact authorities back home to make sure to keep you locked out of the house. That house is mines after all. I'll give you your property back as soon as I'm back, but the house is mines. As for the pre-nup you are only entitled to only $10,000 since we weren't married for too long."

Helga leaned against Arnold trying so hard not to show a happy face, but it was so hard at how chagrined Ian appeared. Olga had claws after all.

"But she assaulted me." Ian pointed out.

Olga studied the mark on his cheek. "Looks like you tripped against the railing or something else." She spoke in a matter-of-fact voice.

"I did witness it myself, Ma'am. He did hit the railing." James confirmed.

"You have cameras in here. It will show." Ian pointed at one of the camera's.

Glancing up herself, Helga shook her head. "Those camera's have been on the fritz for a few days now upstairs. It happened during our last security update so that is why we'll be looking at it again."

Olga remained serious still. "James, please see that Ian packs his bags. I have already paid for a room for him at the Hillwood Sherwood Hotel. Thank you." Handing Ian the papers, Olga felt sick. "Who's dumb now?"

Waiting for Ian to walk upstairs to pack, Helga and Arnold approached Olga. "I'm really sorry, Olga. Maybe the next one will be the actual one."

Taking Helga's hand, Olga's smile was very weak. "No I'm sorry. You had to go through so much with him and I must say you handled it quite well." Her eyes went to Arnold. "At least you have nothing to worry about with Arnold."

"No I don't. Arnold is into fairness."

"Hey Olga, want to hang out with us? We can do whatever you want to do." Arnold offered.

Thinking about it Olga nodded her head. "I always eat so healthy. I want a burger. I haven't had one for such a long time."

Raising her eyebrows up, Helga paused to speak as Ian stormed past them to leave. "You sure? You are so use to healthy food that it might be too much."

Nodding her head in a determined way, Olga smiled at her sister. "I'm absolutely sure. I want to indulge."

"Well Arnold and I have a place for you." Helga glanced over to James. "Wanna join?"

James couldn't believe he was being invited to yet another thing with them. Perking up, James answered in the affirmative. "Why of course."

"First let me change the gate code and tell our parents about it along with Anita." Helga informed them as she went to go to access the main system. "Don't want that prick back in here."

Olga smiled at her sister before Arnold. "You have grown quite handsome, Arnold. I already consider you my brother-in-law."

Finding that an honor, Arnold thanked her for the compliment. He just hoped they never heard from Ian again.


I planned on getting her to tape record her conversation with Ian, Nep2uune. Thanks still for the suggestion. :) It was mentioned before that there was a pre-nup involved with her marriage to Ian.